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Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Bobbie Kelly Headteacher The CE Academy Cromwell Campus Poole Street Northampton Northamptonshire NN1 3EX

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Ofsted visit to The CE Academy

Following my visit with Deborah Mosley, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 22 October 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

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Ofsted visit to The CE Academy

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended.

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Ofsted visit to The CE Academy

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

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Ofsted visit to The CE Academy

During the visit, we spoke to you, members of the senior leadership team and leaders responsible for safeguarding. We also spoke with the school’s occupational therapist. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

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Context

 approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

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Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

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Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school opened fully to all pupils on 7 September 2020. Some pupils returned on 4 September 2020. All pupils are expected to attend full time.  Attendance is similar to that seen during the same period last year. Staff work closely with pupils and their families to ensure that they attend school regularly and are safe. At the time of the visit, a small number of pupils in Year 8 and Year 9 were self-isolating due to risks associated with COVID-19.  Pupils are studying most of their usual subjects. However, physical education and cookery have been withdrawn temporarily. Some aspects of these subjects are being taught to pupils through catering and outdoor education.  Staff have checked pupils’ progress in learning. They work closely with pupils to establish plans for learning to suit pupils’ individual needs, interests and future aspirations. Support and extra tuition have been planned to help pupils

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

to catch up, where necessary.  Pupils study the usual range of academic and vocational subjects. Pupils in Year 11 have resumed their studies, including GCSE courses.  Leaders have established a ‘blended’ approach to remote learning. This approach supports pupils to work at home during periods of extended absence from school. Each pupil can continue their existing bespoke curriculum pathway. Staff check frequently the engagement, progress and welfare of pupils who are learning remotely. Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Northamptonshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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